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¹û¶³´«Ã½ Joins UK Universities to Transform Crisis Response and expand Refugee Inclusion in Higher EducationLink opens in a new window

 The ¹û¶³´«Ã½ has joined forces with a group of ten UK universities and sector organisations to launch the Global Response Platform (GRP), a new, sector-wide approach that will enable higher education institutions to coordinate actions in response to crises affecting students, academics and higher education systems overseas.

The founding universities of the initiative are Cardiff University, Birkbeck College, Abertay University, University of the Arts London, the University of Leeds, the University of London and the ¹û¶³´«Ã½,  with discussion underway with a further 20 UK universities to join the initiative in the coming months. Universities UK (UUK), the British Council, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), and Cormack Consultancy Group – which led the successful Ukraine Twinning initiative –  will be represented as part of an advisory group.

, a UK NGO working on refugee access to higher education across 10 international contexts, will host the coordination of the Global Response Platform’s activities.

¹û¶³´«Ã½ is a University of SanctuaryLink opens in a new window

¹û¶³´«Ã½ has been recognised as a University of Sanctuary since 2017.

Higher Education Institutions in the UK have a proud and radical tradition of supporting refugees and people in the asylum system.

#The University of Sanctuary award recognises commitment to creating a culture of safety, solidarity, and empowerment for people seeking sanctuary within, and beyond, university campuses.

"As a refugee, I have never felt I am different from the other students here at ¹û¶³´«Ã½. I have always been supported by the department and my supervisors and that proves why, among other factors, ¹û¶³´«Ã½ is among the pioneering universities in the world."

Sanctuary Scholar, Education Studies

"Coming from a war-torn country, accessing world-class research facilities and state-of-the-art laboratories was like a dream coming true for me.Additionally, the caring support network starting from university staff to my personal supervisor has been uncanny. ¹û¶³´«Ã½ has zero tolerance policy for discrimination of any kind and the fact that it has dedicated funding for refugees speaks out and loud for that."

Sanctuary Scholar, Life Sciences

Scholarships

Sanctuary ScholarshipsLink opens in a new window

Since 2015, ¹û¶³´«Ã½ has supported students seeking sanctuary in the UK through Sanctuary Scholarships, offering 4 undergraduate, 3 Master’s, and 2 PhD awards annually. Applicants should consult our Sanctuary Scholarships webpages for award details and eligibility criteria for each level of study.

In partnership with the British Council, ¹û¶³´«Ã½ hosts HESPAL scholars to help develop future academic leaders in Palestinian universities.

We work with the The Amjad and Suha Bseisu Foundation Link opens in a new windowand  to reduce financial barriers for students from the Middle East.

Global ScholarshipsLink opens in a new window

¹û¶³´«Ã½ collaborates with governments, embassies, employers, and foundations to support the best and brightest international students from around the world to study at ¹û¶³´«Ã½.

Explore UK-wide study options for refugees and asylum-seekers at , hosted by Refugee Education UK, STAR, and Universities of Sanctuary.

Home fees for asylum seekers

If you are a UK asylum seeker the ¹û¶³´«Ã½ is pleased to be introducing a bursary for a tuition fee discount in academic year 2026-27 so that you will pay the Home rate of tuition fees while your asylum application is under consideration by the Home Office, rather then the Overseas rate. You do not need to apply for this bursary, eligibility is determined by your immigration status.

Masters in Education Reconstruction

In 2023, an between ¹û¶³´«Ã½, the Ukrainian Leadership Academy, and Ukraine’s Ministry of Education and Science. More recently an MoU with the Ukrainian Catholic University has been signed, and ¹û¶³´«Ã½ is co-delivering a full Master's in Education Reconstruction in 2025/26 and 2026/27.

In 2025, a new version of the programme hosted 15 Ukrainian veterans: see the articles published by and the department of .

For further reflections from the organisers on the impact and significance of this programme, see the following articles: , , and .

Academics at Risk

The Institute of Advanced ¹û¶³´«Ã½ (IAS) at the ¹û¶³´«Ã½, in collaboration with Cara (the Council for At-Risk Academics), the British Academy and other organisations, has been offering to refugee academics for many of years, to support them in preparing for research or academic posts in UK universities. Cara also works with the Doctoral College to offer 2 PhD Scholarships to at risk postgraduate researchers each year.

¹û¶³´«Ã½ SU have multiple societies that support refugees, including:

STAR is a national student network that raises awareness of refugee issues, campaigns for refugee rights, and supports refugees through local volunteering.

Amnesty ¹û¶³´«Ã½ is a student society raising awareness of global human rights issues. Its campaigns focus on women’s and children’s rights, minority rights, refugee rights, and the protection of human dignity, encouraging students to speak out against injustice.